PITTSBURGH — Less than 15 minutes into the game, the Canadiens realized they weren’t playing the Capitals anymore. Oh, not even close.
Everything that worked so perfectly against the Capitals was failing miserably against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who might exploit a weakness better than any team in hockey.
Defensemen Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski each had a goal and an assist, and the Penguins shredded the Montreal penalty-killing unit that Washington never solved in the opening round. Pittsburgh beat the Canadiens 6-3 on Friday night in the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Sidney Crosby set up two goals, and Jordan Staal and Sergei Gonchar also scored as the Penguins’ improved power play went 4-for-4. By contrast, the Canadiens killed 32-of-33 Capitals power plays in the first round.
The secret? According to Crosby, there was no secret.
“We talked about getting traffic, we talked about getting pucks through, and we executed — that’s the difference,” Crosby said. “When you do the right things, you give yourself a chance. We got some good areas to get shots away. I still think we can get more shots, still think we can generate more.”
Bill Guerin added an empty-net goal and had an assist as the Penguins won Game 1 for only the second time in five playoff series.
